MELANOMA AND OCCUPATION - RESULTS OF A CASE-CONTROL STUDY IN THE NETHERLANDS

Several studies have reported excesses of risk of melanoma in specific industries. Data from a case-control study in The Netherlands, includ ing 140 cases with a cutaneous melanoma and 181 controls with other ty pes of malignancy, were used to evaluate whether the reported associat ions with these specifiic industries could be reproduced. Adjustment f or characteristics of pigmentation and exposure to sunlight was made. Increased risks of cutaneous melanoma were found for subjects who had ever worked in the electronics industry (odds ratio (OR) = 2.03, 95% c onfidence interval (95% CI) 0.63-6.62), in the metal industry (OR = 2. 61, 95% CI 0.96-7.10), and in the transport and communication branch ( OR = 1.92, 95% CI 0.84-4.35). These ORs were adjusted for age, sex, ed ucation, hair colour, tendency to burn, freckling, and exposure to sun light. No increased risks were seen for workers in the chemical indust ry, the textile industry, and among health care workers. Analyses acco rding to duration and latency of exposure did not give consistent resu lts, but existing patterns may be obscured by the imprecision of the e stimates.